Coffee comes in countless forms, with different beans, roasts, brewing methods and flavour combos changing this beloved drink quite drastically. Often, two versions of coffee that get pitted against each other: instant and ground coffee. But which is best?
Coffee purists will say ground without a doubt, but instant coffee is ideal for casual drinkers, so they both certainly have their benefits. As a leading coffee franchise in the UK, we know a thing or two about what makes a good cup of coffee so have set about delving into the differences of these popular coffee options.
What is Instant Coffee?
Instant coffee is regular coffee that has been dehydrated until it forms granules or a powder. The concentrated coffee solids are soluble in water, so you just need to add a bit of hot water and you’ve got a delicious, convenient brew.
What is Ground Coffee?
Ground coffee is made from whole roasted coffee beans which are ground down into varying levels of fineness for different drinks. Ground coffee is brewed in hot water and then passed through some kind of filter to remove the grounds from the final drink.
This is the kind of coffee you would expect to find in your local coffee shop.
What’s the Difference Between Ground & Instant Coffee?
There are a couple of key differences between ground and instant coffee:
- Brewing Method
- Flavour
- Time
- Caffeine Content
- Cost
Brewing Method
One of the most obvious ways they differ is the brewing method. Making instant coffee is much simpler as you can just pour freshly boiled water over the coffee, stir and add milk or sugar as desired. Instant coffee has already been through the actual brewing process, so you’re free to add water and drink.
On the other hand, ground coffee requires a bit more effort until you’ve got your final drink. Once your coffee grounds have finished brewing in water, they will need to be filtered with some extra equipment, whether it’s a drip filter, french press or espresso machine. For many coffee drinkers, the brewing and filtering are all part of the ritual.
Coffee Flavour
Another key consideration and point of contention is how the coffee actually tastes. Instant coffee products will often use Robusta beans which have a slightly more intense, acidic or bitter flavour. Because instant coffee is more processed, the final product can also experience a loss of oils which affects the complexity of the flavour.
Coffee grounds are often made from Arabica beans which have a more complex, better rounded flavour profile. Ground coffee is also better at retaining those essential oils because they do not have to undergo new processes, leading to a smoother flavour. Ground coffee has a freshness that can’t really be beaten by instant coffee.
Time
We’ve already touched on this slightly, but instant coffee is much quicker to make – hence the ‘instant’. If you’re in a hurry in the mornings or just don’t want to spend additional time making your brew, instant coffee is ideal.
Ground coffee has a few extra steps, but for many people spending a bit more time on making a great coffee at home is more than worth it for the simple enjoyment of a superior drink.
Caffeine Content
Caffeine content will vary depending on the type of coffee drink and the brand. Most sources say that ground coffee has more caffeine because the brewing process allows more caffeine to be extracted from the grounds, whereas some caffeine content might be lost in the product of instant coffee.
Ultimately, caffeine content probably won’t be much of a consideration if you’re trying to decide between instant or ground content because you can change the amount of caffeine quite easily by altering the strength of your drink.
Both instant and ground coffee are also available with decaf options.
Cost
Again, this will depend on the brand and shop you buy from. On the whole, instant coffee tends to be the cheaper option. However, it’s usually a case of getting what you pay for – while ground coffee may be more expensive, you can usually find a more extensive variety of higher quality, single-origin coffee or speciality blends.
Which is Better: Instant Coffee or Ground Coffee?
Which is better really comes down to what you want out of a cup of coffee.
Choose instant coffee if you want to prioritise convenience and affordability. Instant coffee is quicker and easier to make, has a longer shelf life and is cheaper than other options.
Choose ground coffee if you want to prioritise taste and quality. Ground coffee is for coffee enthusiasts who don’t mind spending a little extra time and money on making amazing coffee at home.
If you’re not one for making coffee at home or just want to discover a tasty new blend, why not visit your local Esquires store? We have coffee shops all over the UK, providing top-tier coffee experiences in cosy settings where you can sit back, relax and watch the world go by. Discover your closest Esquires Coffee store.
